Multi-colored hosiery having knit solid color sole and method of knitting



April 30, 1957 H. PALMER 2,790,316

MULTI-COLORED HOSIERY HAVING KNIT SOLID COLOR SOLE AND METHOD OF KNITTING Filed Sept 14. 1953 Q INVENTOR. Hm m I A LI IEF? figEflEY Ann w.

United States Patent" MULTI-COLORED HOSIERY HAVING KNIT SOLID COLOR SOLE AND METHOD OF KNITTING.

Harry R. Palmer, Cheltenham,..Pa., assignon to. Vogt Knitting Mills, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 14, 1953, Serial No. 379,984

3 Claims. (Cl. 66-188) The present invention relates to hosiery, such as mens socks, which are knit in two or more contrasting colors, and more particularly it relates to the provision of a flat or plain knit, solid color sole for such hosiery and to the method of knitting the same.

Heretofore, hosiery, particularly mens socks knit in two or more contrasting colors from yarns of different color, such as a two-tone striped body, having invariably incorporated the different colored yarns used in knitting the body to knit the sole, therefore resulting either in a two or more tone striped sole or, more recently, in a double fabric ribbed sole. Such soles have certain outstanding disadvantages. The two toned striped sole, for example, is objectionable from the standpoint of appearance since a single or solid color sole is preferred by most buyers. Moreover, a double layer fabric ribbed sole also has certain disadvantages such as heavier weight in yarn and rougher surface as compared to a single layer sole.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel hosiery construction and method of knitting such hosiery so as to overcome the above named disadvantages.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel, flat or plain knit, solid color sole and method of knitting the same for hosiery, such as mens socks, which are knit from yarns of two or more contrasting colors knit simultaneously to form the body portion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a two-toned, striped men's sock, which incorporates a solid color flat knit sole formed by only one of the yarns in accordance with the principles of the present invention and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the inner surface of the sock showing the floated yarn of color other than that of the sole which is trimmed out to leave a solid color single layer sole.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a mens sock in which the body is rib knit to form a two toned, striped design, being knit of a dark yarn, such as a black yarn 1, and a light color yarn, such as a white yarn 2, in alternating stripes.

The yarn may be knit by a J. L. Bentley machine of the type wherein normally a two-toned design is incorporated in not only the body but the sole by the use of a top cylinder having yarns of two colors and a bottom cylinder having yarns of two colors knit simultaneously. In the conventional use of a Bentley machine both of these yarns are incorporated in alternating stripe form in the sole portion 3. The two cylinders provide a ribbed efiect.

But in accordance with the present invention the above I. L. Bentley machine is modified by replacing the original selector carnming lever with a special lever on 2,790,316 Patented Apr. 30, 1957 foot; The. remainder of the knitting processis' the same ascustomary on this type'of 'm'achine.

Turning now to the actual construction or the sock itself as obtained: by the above-modifications of a I. L.

Bentley machine, it will be noted that in knitting the sole, instead of using both of the above mentioned top and bottom cylinders for knitting-both types of yarn simultaneously, only the bottom cyli'nderis (used to knit a. single.yarn, say of white color 2, to. form thersole 3. During this time the'dark' color'thre'ad 'l is floated across the inner surface of the sole, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, resulting in long loose parallel strands 4 of dark yarn 1 spanning the entire width of the sole. Selvages or sutures 6 are then formed. The floated yarns 4 are shown in Figure 2 in the position just before cutting and after being pulled over the body portion from the sole spanning position to make cutting easier.

After the sole has been plain knit so that its outer surface is of single color, plain knit yarn, the floated strands 4 are pulled to the position shown in Figure 2 and cut at the ends so as to leave only small end pieces 5 projecting from the edges 6. This will, therefore, leave a single layer white color sole 3. Of course if the solid black color were desired instead for the sole, the floated strands 4 would be of white color and then cut off by scissors or the like.

If the body were knit with yarns of three different colors, only one of the yarns would be plain knit to form the sole while the other two would be floated across the inner surface of the sole and then cut.

There are many outstanding advantages of a plain knit, solid color sole of a single layer. It has a smoother and less pebbly surface with no ribbed effect, therefore is more comfortable to wear. It will stretch and relax with the foot movements to give walking comfort. It has a more attractive appearance, being in solid color, than would a sole knitted in contrasting colors. The particular color selected for the sole may be natural or undyed yarn, therefore giving no trouble from direct contact with the foot of the wearer. It has only one layer, therefore cooler to wear in summer time. It requires fewer attachments and is less expensive to manufacture.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an efilcient construction for hosiery, such as mens socks of the type in which the body is knit of two or more differently colored yarns, wherein the sole, instead of being knit in two tone stripes or in two layers of fabric, will be knit in only one of the yarns to form a single layer, plain knit sole, providing more attractive appearance, a smoother surface, therefore more comfort, more elasticity and more coolness for summer Wear as well as less cost in manufacture.

While I have illustrated and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that these are by way of illustration only, and that various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sock having a ribbed body portion knit of yarns of different colors, and a sole which is plain knit .in only one of said yarns to provide a solid color, single layer sole, float edge portions extending inwardly from the junctures of the sole and upper part of the foot.

2. A sock having a body portion knit in at least two contrasting colors by yarns of different color and a sole,

plain knit from only one of said yarns to provide a solid color, the remaining yarns providing floats extending between the junctures of the sole and upper part of the foot portion which may be cut out to form a single layer Sole.

3. The method of knitting the sole of hosiery in which the body port-ion is knit from yarns having at least three contrasting oolors, which comprises plain knitting the sole in the form of a single layer using only one color of yarn, simultaneously floating across the inner surface of the sole of the yarns of the other colors, and finally cutting off the floated yarns adjacent the junctures of the sole and upper part of the foot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,037 Shaw Sept. 22, 1891 4 Taubel Mar. 1, Grothey Aug. 6, Holmes et a1. May 8, Thurston June 27, Thurston, et al. p June 23, Deans Aug. 3,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 19, Great Britain Dec. 30, 

